Ali + Matt at 100 Barrington
“Omg Sarah 🥹 I cannot tell you what a JOY it was to have you with us. Literally every single person I spoke to - guests and staff at the venue! - said how much joy you brought to the day. ”
Arriving at 100 Barrington - tucked between Brixton arches - was like stepping into a slice of Mediterrean heaven. Potted lemon and olive trees, lights strung overhead, a gorgeous spring symphony of blooms from Phine Flowers, and the sky so blue it was practically fizzing. The perfect, perfect vibes for a Spring equinox wedding.
A dreamy set up, like being on holiday
The staff at Barrington - Lorraine and the whole lovely team - were so welcoming. It’s fun going to a venue I’ve never been to before and I have no idea if I’ll ever be back. But I bloody hope so.
I was so excited. Not just to be at such a gorgeous venue. Not just to be reunited with one of my fave photographers, Carla Whittingham. But because I absolutely love Ali and Matt and I couldn’t wait to marry them.
Photography by lovely, lovely Carla Whittingham
Matt works in theatre and did a lot of amateur dramatics as a child, and I’ve loved every chat I’ve had with him and Ali because I love theatre too. Ali works in crisis management so that allowed for plenty of jokes about how they have the perfect alchemy for a successful marriage: Matt brings the drama, Ali helps diffuse it. Dramatic resolution. High-octane peace. It’s joyful in their presence.
One of the stories I had the pleasure of telling was of how they first met: Matt half-cut and half-submerged down a man hole at Durham uni (just to see, y’know), and fellow student Ali arriving on the scene to tell him to kindly pack it in and behave himself. Their first interaction!
There were a couple of moments when we acknowledged the absence of Ali’s lovely late mum, another Lorraine actually, including a poem and a toast. The toast was a couple of vermouth cocktails for Ali and Matt to raise to both Lorraine, but also their marriage, their future. Every year Ali, her sister and dad get together to celebrate Lorraine with one of her favourite tipples: vermouth and lemonade.
Then the poem was in honour of March being not only the spring equinox but also World Poetry Day, and because her mum was a voracious reader, a lover of all manner of poetry and prose. The poem was delivered by the brilliant, booming voice of MC and groomsman Anthony who, when I complimented him on his delivery, turned out to be an actor. So it all made sense. The wedding was, of course, full of thesps.
The most beautiful, botanical spot
I don’t think I stopped smiling all day. A cloudless, sunshine day to celebrate a couple who absolutely radiate warmth to those around them. Anyone lucky enough to call them their friends.
“...it was absolutely BEYOND perfect and what we imagined and genuinely cannot thank you enough!!!”